LSM’s Contradictary Rapture Teaching

Cassidy · 06-30-2012, 09:53 AM

While Rollingstone searches the Witness Lee archives to find the "date" he claims Witness Lee identified for the rapture I must point out the irony of this line of thought.

The author apparently has no objection to setting timetables for end time events:

"A countdown to the great tribulation, to Armageddon, or to the Lord’s public coming, is possible, but not to the Rapture"

.... and he apparently believes there to be only one Rapture of all believers that occurs before the last seven years of this age commence, though his justification for this teaching was glaringly omitted. Tomes' own "eisegesis" forces him to discount the possibility of more than one rapture else he would be guilty of setting a date for a rapture, a contradiction that would knock the props from his position. Therefore, with his own argument he binds himself to a selective interpretation of scripture.

His eisegesis about "imminence" colors Tomes' argument though as has been already pointed out, it is a rather new invention in its relevance to eschatology. 1st century New Testament believer's had the expectation of the Lord's soon return as is clear from the New Testament writings. But to cast a die on "imminence" as a framework for fitting and sizing all other end times doctrine is a relatively new construct in church history and in this article is merely a feeble attempt at shoring up Tome's own narrow beliefs while discounting Witness Lee's more inclusive viewpoint.

In spite of the extreme redundancy in Tomes article (he could have made his point in one page) the net-net of the disagreement is that Tomes fixes the rapture of all believers at the beginning of the last 7 years and Witness Lee believes that there are two raptures, the first one commencing somewhere within the first half of the last seven years involving overcomers, that is the firstfruits, and the final one involving the general harvest of most of the believers at the end of the last seven years. Tomes attempted no substantiation for his singular rapture viewpoint.

Nevertheeless, Tomes' is happy to set dates for end time events as long as the first event in his understanding of eschatology (the rapture of all believers) remains unknown. In contrast, Witness Lee's teaching is a holistic view of the end time events folding in all relevant scripture and not shrinking back from presenting it as such even if it does not match the viewpoints of pre-trib theologians, tele-evangelists, and christian movie-makers. Furthermore, there is enough uncertainty in the end times that no one can accurately fix a date for the rapture whether that be the first or the only one. Finally, I always point out to believer and unbeliever alike that there is no assurance they will live long enough to be a part of or witness to the rapture, so don't depend on it when it comes to your relationship with God.

Cassidy

P.S. Rollingstone, don't bother looking for that rapture date because you will not find it.

UntoHim · 07-01-2012, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassidy

Finally, I always point out to believer and unbeliever alike that there is no assurance they will live long enough to be a part of or witness to the rapture, so don't depend on it when it comes to your relationship with God.

Very astute advise from Cassidy!

And speaking of our relationship with God…. I think it would be better to focus on these quotes from Witness Lee and his followers – As a longtime former member I can testify that IT IS THESE KIND OF STATEMENTS that can drastically affect a person’s relationship with God MUCH MORE than any “eschatological” arguments, one way or the other. These are the kind of statements/declarations that can have a significant and profound effect on one’s relationship with God, at least as it relates to our day-to-day relationship with the believers in his Body, both locally and universally.

“Could the Bride be prepared in the…denominations, free groups or the charismatic movement? Certainly not!”— W. Lee

“If we…follow that person we would not…be in the Lord’s bride, turn the age, or bring the Lord back.”

“The Body equals the recovery…practically for us today, the recovery is the Body”--LSM’s Minoru Chen

“Brother Lee was the wise master builder…to do the work of building we need to…be one with him.”

“Other Christians are working, but they are not working the work of God”—LSM’s Benson Phillips

“Millions of genuine believers…will ironically find themselves left behind when the first-fruits are raptured…[because] the spiritual books they read never encouraged them to mature…”--LSM’s N. Betz

Ohio · 07-01-2012, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UntoHim

“Millions of genuine believers…will ironically find themselves left behind when the first-fruits are raptured…[because] the spiritual books they read never encouraged them to mature…”--LSM’s N. Betz

If there ever was a poster boy for Laodician arrogance, this is it.

06-30-2012, 09:53 AM	#1
Cassidy Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 262	Re: LSM’s Contradictary Rapture Teaching While Rollingstone searches the Witness Lee archives to find the "date" he claims Witness Lee identified for the rapture I must point out the irony of this line of thought. The author apparently has no objection to setting timetables for end time events: "A countdown to the great tribulation, to Armageddon, or to the Lord’s public coming, is possible, but not to the Rapture" .... and he apparently believes there to be only one Rapture of all believers that occurs before the last seven years of this age commence, though his justification for this teaching was glaringly omitted. Tomes' own "eisegesis" forces him to discount the possibility of more than one rapture else he would be guilty of setting a date for a rapture, a contradiction that would knock the props from his position. Therefore, with his own argument he binds himself to a selective interpretation of scripture. His eisegesis about "imminence" colors Tomes' argument though as has been already pointed out, it is a rather new invention in its relevance to eschatology. 1st century New Testament believer's had the expectation of the Lord's soon return as is clear from the New Testament writings. But to cast a die on "imminence" as a framework for fitting and sizing all other end times doctrine is a relatively new construct in church history and in this article is merely a feeble attempt at shoring up Tome's own narrow beliefs while discounting Witness Lee's more inclusive viewpoint. In spite of the extreme redundancy in Tomes article (he could have made his point in one page) the net-net of the disagreement is that Tomes fixes the rapture of all believers at the beginning of the last 7 years and Witness Lee believes that there are two raptures, the first one commencing somewhere within the first half of the last seven years involving overcomers, that is the firstfruits, and the final one involving the general harvest of most of the believers at the end of the last seven years. Tomes attempted no substantiation for his singular rapture viewpoint. Nevertheeless, Tomes' is happy to set dates for end time events as long as the first event in his understanding of eschatology (the rapture of all believers) remains unknown. In contrast, Witness Lee's teaching is a holistic view of the end time events folding in all relevant scripture and not shrinking back from presenting it as such even if it does not match the viewpoints of pre-trib theologians, tele-evangelists, and christian movie-makers. Furthermore, there is enough uncertainty in the end times that no one can accurately fix a date for the rapture whether that be the first or the only one. Finally, I always point out to believer and unbeliever alike that there is no assurance they will live long enough to be a part of or witness to the rapture, so don't depend on it when it comes to your relationship with God. Cassidy P.S. Rollingstone, don't bother looking for that rapture date because you will not find it. __________________ *Cassidy*